Two opera singers who graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music are among nine advancing to the finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, America's most prestigious vocal competition.

Soprano Amanda Woodbury, 26, of Crestwood, Ky., and tenor Yi Li, 30, of Jinan, China, competed on Sunday afternoon at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and will perform in the Grand Finals Concert at 3 p.m. March 30, onstage at the Met.

The finalists have been winnowed from a field of 1,500 competitors who have vied in auditions held in 40 districts and 13 regions throughout the United States and Canada.

They will be competing for cash prizes of $15,000 and the potentially career-launching title of National Council Auditions Winner.

Perhaps more important than the prize money is the chance to sing with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (to be conducted by Marco Armiliato) on the historic stage before opera company executives, artist managers, music critics, and other influential members of the music world.

Woodbury is currently at the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at LA Opera.

Li is currently in the Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

Each finalist will perform two arias of contrasting styles. The concert will be hosted by tenor Lawrence Brownlee, a former winner currently in rehearsals at the Met for Bellini's opera "I Puritani."

New York's classical radio station WQXR 105.9 will air a show devoted to the Grand Finals winners, 7 p.m. April 1. The singers will will be joined by Met star and former National Council winner soprano Deborah Voigt.